Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-01-13
FARMERS INSTITUTE !
Enthusiastic and Successful
Gathering of the Yeomanry..

TTHB CHRoSIoLR is indebted to Mr.. A. T
McKelvey, the Secretary of the Institute, fo
the following very full report of its doings
which was especially reported by request fol
its columns:
The sixth annual Farmers Institute
OF Belmont county convened in the
Presbyterian church on Wednesday
January 5tb, under the auspices of the
Belmont Co. Farmers Club.
The President, j. B. McMechan, at i
a. m, called the Institute to order
aud was opened with prayer by
DR.. Thos. Balph, after which an organi-
zation was effected, with A. L. Nickel
vey as secretary, and Henry Morgan,
treasurer. After brief but pertinent
address of welcome by the President, the
lirSt topic for consideration was sheep
growing an aid to better farming" In
the absence of Mr. w n CoWden, who
vas appointed to open the discussion,
the topic was introduced by Mr. r E
Gifen, who insisted that sheep husband
ry was decided aid to better farming,
enhancing the value of the land by in
ereasing its fertility and destroying
Uoxious weeds, and taking one year
with another yielded as handsome re-
turns as any other branch of farm indus
try. Mr. John Watson followed in the
same vein, taking an affirmative view of
the question, and urged farmers, like the
merchants and manufacturers. to or
ganiZe for self-protectiOn. Mr. W
Nichols followed 10 a spirited speech,
and was inclined to believe that sheep
raising was only profitable on worn out
farDs-was not certain at prevailing
prices it was profitable TO engage in
sheep husbandry upon fields and farms
that were capable of yielding fiue crops
of grass and grain. Statistics were CIV
en- by A 7 McKelvey. who quoted from
the Hon o G Cope, showing that the
price of wool to-day. with gold at par,
netted the farmer as much as it did in
war times with gold at 40 and soc pre-
MUM. Mr. Cowden failing to appear,
the president announced that the dis.
cussiOn would close, and the meeting
adjourned until 1:30 p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At l 80 p N, after singing by the Glee
Club, Praise ye the Lord" the follow
ing ushers were appointed by the presi-
dent: Phil Close, Geo Steenrod, Thomp~
SOD McKetvey, Dorm Sutton.
On motion of Jos FL Denham, the fol,
lowing gentiemon were nominated and
chosen as Vice presidents: l. z Bailey,
Jacob Green, j w Nichols, w d Porter
field, Robt Pollock.
At :35 MIR b Terry, of Hudson, 0,
was introduced, and received with ap-
pIause. Mr Terry's lecture on How to
succeed better on the farm" was intro
duced by the scriptural text, ave ought
TO give the more earnest heed to the
things which We have heard" MIR Ter
ry advocated less acres and better cul>
ture; more special and less general
farming; he preferred growing wheat
and potatoes, and purchasing for home
consumption fruit, berries, poultry dairy
products. &c, &c; he thought farmers
spread out TOO much; scattered their
fire, so to speak, and raised low aver+
age of farm produce both as to quantity
and quality. Mr. Terry advocated the
use of the pencil among farmers; keep
ing d system of simple farm accounts to
ascertain what crops paid best. at the
conclusion of his talk, he was freely |
questioned, and told the farmers how he |
kept his horses fat and sleek upon hay !
alone, while working them steadily, |
blowing, dragging and hauling; be also |
said that continued cropping OF the farm
with potatoes could only be maintained |
by liberal use of manures.
AT the conclusion Of Mr. Us remarks |
the Glee Club sang Gallant and Gaily,"
and Gen S FL Hurst, Dairy commission
CT of Ohio, was introduced, and reeeiV>
ed with applause. Gen,Hurts asked that |
his subject for this afternoon he changed |
to the Dairy Interests of Ohio and she /
of Food" In the hour that |
Mr.. Hurst ventilated the fraud |
1lent practices of oleonargarire and but
-erine manufacturers, showing the i'm
nense quantity of this sham butter |
that is manufactured and sold in the |
State of Ohio; be said not less than So |
300, 900 pounds had been sold in one year,
out that under the recent stringent laws
and their strict enforcement, the trade |
bad been greatly diminished. He told |
humorous incidents of the devices of |
aud merchants to evade |
the provisions of the law requiring them
TO properly label their fraudulent butter. |
he also made astonishing Statements OF
he adulteration of molasses, honey, vint
sgar, sc. showing how our people are
;windled out of millions of dollars an
1ually by these fraudulent practices. At
,he conclusion of Mr. Hurst's address,
,he Institute adjourned until D. N.
EVENING SESSION.
Att D. N. the large auditorium of the |